Flu reaches its peak in Chatham County

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - According to the CDC, the flu remains widespread in Georgia.

It’s still peaking at hospitals and doctors’ officers around the Coastal Empire.

Local hospitals like St. Joseph’s Candler say this year’s flu season isn’t nearly as harsh as last year’s, and there are a few reasons why that could be.

“It seems like there is less severity this year,” said Dr. Spencer Adoff, St. Joseph’s Candler. “We have not seen as many ill patients overall. Perhaps the vaccination has been more effective. We still recommend that people get the vaccine.”

That doesn’t mean local hospitals aren’t busy. Dr. Adoff says the strain might not be as harsh, but waiting rooms and emergency rooms are at full capacity.

Chatham EMS is also staying busy with transporting patients with flu-like symptoms as well as cleaning up after them.

A new machine is helping local paramedics disinfect their ambulances in a whole new way. The machine acts like an air-purifier and runs for about four hours helping Chatham EMS combat the flu.

“They are on a schedule,” said Deputy Chief Benji Cowart, Chatham Emergency Services. “They get disinfected not only after every call, but every couple of months they are set aside and run through this ozone machine that kills all the bacteria.”

According to local hospitals, we are in the peak of flu season right now, but like Dr. Adoff said, it’s not too late to get a flu shot.